Dispensing cap for paste tubes



March 12, 1 940. I s s 2,193,746

DISPENSING CAP FOR PASTE TUBES Filed March 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 9 1 21' H II Ill 59 March 12, 1940. A. J. STREHS 2,193,746

DISPENSING CAP FOR PASTE TUBES Filed March 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 15 f W 5a, 45

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Patented Mar. 12, 1940 i v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING GAP FOR PASTE TUBES Adam J. Strehs, Miami, Fla.

Application March 20, 1939, Serial No. 263,003

11 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in dispensing caps for paste tubes. I

The tubedisclosed in this application is of 6 the collapsible type and the primary object of the invention is to provide a dispensing cap for such a tube wherein the tube may contain liquids or viscous substances, such as cream, paste and the like with means associated with the cap and discharge nozzle of the tube to provide a closure for the discharge nozzle to effectivelyseal the contents of the tube against accidental discharge.

The invention disclosed herein is of the general type shown in the patent issued to Adam J. Strehs for Paste Tube Cap on September 18, 1934, Patent No. 1,974,348, and embodies improvements in the art thereover, especially with reference to the closure plate or valve for the discharge nozzle of the tube and the devices for effecting operation thereof.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accom panying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the drawings:

30 Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a paste tube equipped with a dispensing cap and constructed in accordance with the present invention, the dispensing cap and discharge nozzle of the tube being shown in their opened or 35 discharging positions,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view partly broken away and shown in section to illustrate the thread connection between the cap flange or skirt and the neck of vice or plate laterally disposed relative to the.

discharge nozzle,

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken 55 on line 6 6 of Figure 4, showing the valve plate in its closed position relative to and disposed over the discharge nozzle of the tube,

Figure '7 is a detailed longitudinal sectional View taken on line 1-'| of Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the disk plate 6 anchored to the discharge nozzle of the tube for the operation of the valve plate during rotation of the tube cap,

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the valve plate,

Figure; 10 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on line Ill-l of Figure 9, and

Figure 11 is an exploded fragmentary side elevational view of the several elements forming the dispensing cap and tube neck.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, the reference character I designates a tube of the collapsible type, being comprised of thin gauge metal or the like and of the type usually employed for holding dental and shaving creams, pastes, or the like, the collapsible tube l5 having a thickened shoulder [6 at its outer end that carries a neck I1 having the usual bore 18 therethrough with the neck [1 terminating at its outer end in a discharge nozzle I9 of reduced thickness relative to the neck to provide'an annular shoulder 20..

A dispensing cap designated in general by the reference character 2! includes a ring plate 22 carrying a depending annular skirt or flange 23 surroundingthe central opening in the ring plate 22 with the annular flange 23 fittingly engaged With the outer face ofthe tube neck I! for movement thereover in a manner to be presently described.

relation tothe ring plate 22 to provide a charm her 26 within the cap 2!. The cover plate 25 is provided with a central opening 2'! of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the discharge nozzle l9 so that the latter may project through said opening during operation of the cap in a manner to be presently discribed.

When the discharge nozzle I9 is in its dispensingposition as shown in Figure 3, the outer end thereof projects through the opening 2? in the cover wall 25 of the cap 2| and is in a plane outwardly of said cover wall, the outer end of the discharge nozzle being retractable into the chamber 26 in the cap when the same is in its inoperative or closed position as illustrated in Figure. 4, these positions of the discharge nozzle being produced by movements of the cap 2| relative to the neck I? of the collapsible tube I5. As shown more clearly in Figures 2 and ll, the neck ll of the dispensing tube has a pair of diametrically opposite cam grooves formed in the outer face thereof, said grooves extending for a circumferential distance slightly greater than with corresponding ends of the grooves overlapping in spaced relation longitudinally of the neck as shown in Figure 3. The cam groove designated in general by the reference character 23 has the lower end 23 disposed in proximity of the tube shoulder it, the cam groove being directed outwardly from the inner end 29 toward the discharge nozzle I9 as shown by the reference character 39 to the peak point 3|, the cam groove 28 thereafter being slightly inclined inwardly as at 32 for a relatively short distance and then continuing in a substantially annular direction relative to the neck as at 33. A pair of diametrically opposite pins 34 are carried by the skirt or flange 23 of the dispensing cap 2| and project inwardly of said flange for engagement in the cam grooves 28. It will be understood that when th cap 2| is rotated on the neck I? of the collapsible tube, said cap 'may be moved inwardly and outwardly of the tube neck as will be readily understood from an inspection of Figures 3 and 4.

A valve device is mounted within the chamber 28 of the dispensing cap to control the passage through the discharge nozzle I9 and the valve device has means directly associated therewith to effect operation thereof which includes a disk plate 35 shown in detail in Fig. 8 as having a central opening therein with equi-distantly spaced teeth 36 projecting inwardly from the wall of said disk plate opening, one of said teeth being omitted to provide an uninterrupted sur face 3'1. A cylindrical lug 38 is carried by the disk plate 35 and rises from one face thereof adjacent the peripheral edge of said disk plate and in radial alinement with the uninterrupted portion 3! of the toothed wall opening in the disk plate. As shown more clearly in Figures 5 and 11, the discharge nozzle I9, outwardly of the shoulder 28 of the neck I1 is longitudinally fluted or grooved as at 39 with one of the grooves omitted to provide an uninterrupted space 49 to register with the uninterrupted space 31 of the disk plate 35 to aid in the correct assembly or mounting of the disk plate 35 upon the discharge nozzle I9 for seating engagement upon the shoulder 20 of the neck and the ring plate 22 of the cap as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 7. The disk plate 35 is of lesser diameter than the ring plate 22 as shown in the several figures.

A valve plate 4| shown in detail in Figures 9 and 10 comprises an elliptical plate 42 carrying upon its lower face a depending flange 43 at the margin thereof with the inner side of the flange 43 forming arcuate guides 44 and 45. One end of the plate 42 has a pin 46 depending from the flange 43. The flange 43 with the arcuate guides 45 is arcuately cut away as at 41 at one side edge of the plate 42 with the area 48 of the bottom face of the plate 42 within the cut-away portion 1 of the flange constituting a valve per se. The opposite side of the flange 43 with the arcuate guides 44 and the adjacent portion of the plate 42 is cut-away to provide a circular opening 49. The valve device 4| is mounted in the chamber 23 with the flanged side 43 directed downwardly and the pin 48 is pivotally received in an opening 50 formed in the ring plate 22 outwardly of the marginal edge of the disk plate 35 and when so disposed the lug 38 is engaged with the bottom face of the valve plate 42 inwardly of the marginal flnage 43.

In the assembly of the several parts of the device, it will be noted as shown in Figure 11, that the cap 2| is first mounted upon the neck ll of the tube I5 with the flange 23 surrounding the neck and the pins 34 then inserted in diametrically opposite openings 5| in the flange 23 and at the lower ends 29 of the cam grooves 28. When so disposed, the lower end of the flange 23 of the cap is engaged with the shoulder I8 of the tube and the discharge nozzle I9 of the neck projects upwardly through the open upper side of the cap. The disk plate 35 is then interlockingly engaged with the fluated portion 39 of the discharge nozzle with the lug 38 thereof carried thereby directed upwardly, the uninterrupted portion 31 of the opening in the disk plate 35 registering with the uninterrupted portion 40 of the discharge nozzle I9, the disk plate 35 seating upon the shoulder 28 of the neck and the ring plate 22 of the cap. The valve plate 42 is then lowered into position and the opening 49 in the valve plate receives the discharge nozzle I9, the upstanding lug 38 of the disk plate being positioned within the depending marginal edge 43 of the ring plate 35 while the pin 46 of the valve plate 42 is received in the opening 58 of the ring plate 22 of the cap. The cover wall 25 is then placed in position in the open upper end of the cap as shown in Figure 2 with the discharge nozzle I9 projecting through the opening 21 in the cover wall 25, the latter being permanently retained in position within the cap in any preferred manner.

With the parts so assembled, the discharge nozzle I9 projects through the central opening I l in the dispensing cap 2|, while the pins 34 carried by the flange 23 of the cap are located at the lower ends 29 of the cam grooves 28 and in such position the contents of the tube may be readilly dispensed through the cap. To close the discharge nozzle I9, the cap 2| is rotated on the tube neck I! in a threadlike manner and outwardly of the shoulder I5 of the tube. The disk plate 25 being interlockingly engaged with the discharge nozzle I9, is restrained from rotation relative to the cap and as the valve plate 42 is pivoted to and movable with the cap, the shoulder 45 of the flange 43 of the valve plate moves over the stationary lug 38 and into engagement with the shoulder 44 of the flange 43 at the opposite side of the valve plate and moves the valve plate 42 on its pivot pin 46 to position the valve plate portion 44 over the open outer end of the discharge nozzle I9 which has moved into the chamber 28 of the dispensing cap by movement of the cap outwardly of the neck of the tube, the arcuate cut-away portion 4'! of the flange 43 permitting the valve plate 42 to assume the position shown in Figure 6. When the pins 34 carried by the flange 23 of the cap have moved to the peak portion 3| of the cam groove 28, the valve plate 42 is in its closed position relative to the discharge nozzle I9 and the opening 21 in the cover wall 25 of the cap. Continued rotation of the cap in the same direction causes the pins 34 to move downwardly in the return portion 32 of the cam slot to effect binding engagement of the valve plate on its seat while slightly continued movement places the pins 34 in the annular end 33 of the cam grooves for locking the valve plate to its seat. It will be understood'that a reverse rotation of the cap will first relieve the binding engagement on the valve plate, the lateral displacement of the valve plate 42 to aline the opening 49 therein with the From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and 4 operation thereof will at once be apparent, and

while there is herein shown and described thepreferred embodiment thereof, it is to bunderstood that. minor changes may be made in the details of construction, such as will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: I 1. In dispensing apparatus, a container, a neck and discharge nozzle carried by the container,

1 a cap having thread-like engagement with the neck and having. a top wall with an opening therein through which the nozzle is adapted to be projected and a valve device in the cap forming a closure for-the cap opening and nozzle, said valve device including a plate having an opening therein adapted to register with the cap opening when the cap is in dispensing position with the nozzle projected through the plateopening for interlocking engagement with the plate and for holdingthe'same against accidental closing movement.

2; Dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the valve plate being pivoted to the cap and means carried by the nozzle and immovable relative thereto and adapted to be engaged by the plate for efiecting positive movement of the plate on its pivotal mounting into open and closed positions. 7

3. Dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, characterized by a lug in the cap'immovable relative to the nozzle and guide flanges on the valve plate movable over the lug for efdectingv pivotal movements of the valve plate into open and closed positions. 1 v

4:- Dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the valve plate being of substantially elliptical form and pivoted at one end to the movable cap, and means in the cap immovable relative to the nozzle and adapted tobe engaged by the valve plate during rotation of the cap for effecting pivotal movement of the valve plate into open and closed positions.

5. Dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the valve plate being of substantially elliptical form and pivoted at one end to the movable cap, and means in the cap immovable relative to the nozzleand adapted to be engaged by the valve plate during rotation of the cap for effecting pivotal-movement of the valve plate into open and closed positions, said means including a disk plate interlockingly engaged with the discharge nozzle and a lug carried by the disk plate for engagement with the valve plate.

6. Dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the valve plate being of substantially elliptical form and pivoted at one end to the movable cap, and means in the cap immovable relative to the nozzle and adapted to be engaged bythe valve plate during rotation of the cap for effecting pivotal movement of the valve plate into open and closed positions, said means including a disk plate interlockingly engaged with the discharge nozzle and a lug carried by the disk plate for engagement with the valve plate, the discharge nozzle having a longitudinally fluted exterior wall and said means including a 7 disk plate having a central opening therein with teeth projecting inwardly from the wall of said opening for interlocking engagement with the fluted wall of the discharge nozzle and a lug carried by the disk plate engaged with the valve plate.

I 7. Dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the valve plate being of substantially elliptical formationand pivoted at one end to the cap, the bottom face of the valve plate having a depending marginal flange spaced from the opening in said plate,- said' flange having a cut-away portion providing clearancefor the discharge nozzle whereby the valve plate may move to a closed position relative to the discharge nozzle, the inner edges of said flange forming arcuate guides and means in said cap immovable relative to the nozzle and adapted to be engaged by said arcuate guides to effect pivotal movement of the valve plate during rotation of said cap.

8. Dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the valve plate being of substantially elliptical formation and pivoted at one end to the cap, the bottom face of the valve plate having a depending marginal flange spaced from the opening in said plate, said flange havinga cut-away portion providing clearance for the discharge nozzle whereby the valve plate may move to a closed position relative to the discharge nozzle, the inner edges of said flange forming arcuate guides, a disk plate in said cap interlockingly engaged with said discharge nozzle and 9. Dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

characterized by the neck having an abutment shoulder, the cap having an annular skirt inclosing the neck and a bottom wall portion in the plane of said shoulder, a disk plate interlockingly engaged with the discharge nozzle and seated on said abutment shoulder and bottom wall of the cap and being of less diameter than the bottom wall of said cap, said'valve plate being of substantially elliptical form and pivotallyconnected at one end with the flat bottom wall of the cap outwardly of the disk plate and said disk plate and bottom face of the valve plate being cooperatively constructed to effect pivotal movement of the valve plate during rotation of the cap.

10. Dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the neck having an abutment shoulder, the cap having an annular skirt inclo'sing the neck and a bottom wall portion in the plane of said shoulder; a disk plate interlockingly engaged with the discharge nozzle and seated on said abutment shoulder and bottom wall of the cap and being of less diameter than the bottom 'wall of said cap, said valve plate being of substantially elliptical form and pivotally connected at one end with the flat bottom wall of the cap outwardly of the disk plate, arcuate guide flanges depending from said'valve plate and a lug rising from the disk plate to be engaged by'said arcuate flanges during rotation of the cap to effect pivotal movement of the valve plate.

11. Dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the neck having an abutment shoulder, the cap having an annular skirt inclosing the neck and a bottom wall portion in the plane of said shoulder, a disk plate interlockingly said abutment shoulder and bottom wall of the cap and being of less diameter than the bottom wall of said cap, said valve plate being of substantially elliptical form and pivotally connected at one end with the fiat bottom wall of the cap outwardly of the disk plate, arcuate guide flanges depending from said valve plate and a lug rising from the disk plate to be engaged by said arcuate flanges during rotation of the cap to effect pivotal movement of the valve plate, the arcuate guide flanges being locked at the marginal edge of the elliptical plate and spaced laterally of the opening in said plate and the guide flange at the opposite side of said plate being broken away to permit pivotal movement of the valve plate over the open end of the discharge nozzle for closing the same.

ADAM J. STREHS. 

